Family Tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Least Concern
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
Taxonomy
French: Moucherolle tchébec German: Zwergschnäppertyrann Spanish: Mosquero mínimo
Taxonomy:
Tyrannula minima
W. M. Baird and S. F. Baird
, 1843,near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
.Distribution:
C Canada (S Yukon and NW interior E to S Quebec and S Maritime provinces) S in USA to Wyoming, N Great Plains, New England and (in Appalachians) NW Georgia; rarely in Oregon, N California and N Colorado. Winters both slopes of Mexico (S from Sonora and Tamaulipas), rarely S USA, S through Central America, at least casually to Costa Rica and C Panama.
Descriptive notes
12·5–14 cm; 8–13 g. Small, compact Empidonax with short bill, short rounded wings and short, narrow tail. Has whitish supraloral stripe and bold... read more
Voice
Most frequent call a short soft “whit”. Most distinctive vocalization “chebec... read more
Habitat
Breeds in mature deciduous and mixed forests, secondary forest, forest clearings and borders, and... read more
Food and feeding
Insects, occasionally fruit. Diet includes hymenopterans, beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera), lepidopteran adults and larvae,... read more
Breeding
Late May to early Aug; short breeding season estimated at no more than 64 days. Nest cup neat and compact, with thick rim, woven with bark... read more
Movements
Long-distance migrant, wintering in Mexico and Central America. Migrates at night. Departs breeding... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Common; overall population estimated at 14,000,000 individuals. Breeding density varies, 1·4 pairs/ha in New Hampshire (USA) to greater than 4... read more
See E. fulvifrons. Monotypic.